LunasMom's Profile
Which restaurant in Epcot or Epcot resort area for dinner? (one diner is vegetarian)
My father is vegan, and the last time we visited each signature dining restaurant on property offered a vegan menu. With that being said, I absolutely love Boma which has been mentioned. However with the other restaurants that you have listed as liking I would say Jiko, just across the hall from Boma, or Sanaa (also on property of AKL). The latter has an absolutely amazing bread service that has some amazing sauces. Everyone at your table would enjoy it not just the vegetarian. Sanaa is a hidden gem and may be easier to get into. Good Luck!
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Good Luck Cafe
1910 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
Please critique our planned choices on Big Island
Amured,
Thank you so much for your feedback, exactly what I was looking for and your recs were right in line with my temptations. Example being Nori's, but not sure we will have time, we have a helicopter tour at 11:30am. Maybe we can get it to go, and take it to VNP? Also appreciate your input on KPC and just going to look at the Hilton locaiton. I agree on the Lu'au and maybe with your feedback my husband will agree since this the one he wanted to do.
As to our itinerary, it revolves around FOOD of course. My husband hates it but usually forgives me about half way through our vacations, because of all the good food, and we are always open to change if we get there and it doesn't work with what we want to do.
If thsi is the only response I get, could be this board is slow, it will be worth my post because of your response, Thank you so much.
Elsewhere than Hawaii :-)
Burlington Vt. - Bove's
My family has been going to this family run business for over 20 years. They have the best red clam sauce I have ever had, I am even afraid to order it anywhere else because I know I will be let down. The anti pasta salad is a towering mountain the whole table can share. The sliced italian bread loaf is classic. If you are brave you will try their garlic sauce, but be prepard to spend the night on the couch unless you get your significant other to try it too.
In the middle of winter, you will find a line out the door an hour+ long, to get into this 16-20 table restaurant. They have decent house wines, and a full bar for those of you who need it.
PS-don't get this place confused with the commercial "Bove's" sauces you can find in grocery stores. That stuff I would not feed to my god, but the real thing is worth me freezing it when I am in VT. and sending it over night to myself to have at home!
Please critique our planned choices on Big Island
After reading the posts and looking online, here are our planned meals on The Big Island:
(breakfast will be open a lot because we are in a time share and can save a little money by buying our own kona coffee and having breakfast there before we head out for the day. If there is a place we shouldn't miss for breakfast plese let me know.)
May 24th arrive 2pm dinner is still open
25th - brk at Coffee Shack, lunch - open, dinner - Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill
26th - brk open, we are doing ATV tour in Kapa'au starts at 12:15, any recs for lunch in that area around 11am, dinner - Merriman's
27th - brk - open, lunch - Cafe Pesto I love pizza :), dinner - Kenichi Pacific
28th - driving to Hilo for farmers market tex drive in on the way, lunch open, dinner - Thai Thai Restaurant
29th - brk - open, lunch - open, dinner - Sushi En Fuego
30th - brk - open, lunch - open looking for some thing lite, dinner - Lu'au at Koan Coast Resort
31st - brk - open, lunch - open, dinner - FUJIMAMA'S RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR
1st - brunch - Kamuela Provision Company at the Hilton, dinner - open
Choices to for dinners two open nights - Roy's & ?
Choices for open lunches - BaLe, Teshima's, and Habahero's
Please give honest feed back that is recent, I am not looking for reviews from 2 years ago. Since I have seen here that there have been changes in chef's that have made the later ones outdated.
Thank you so much for your help.
Polynesian Lu’au on the Big Island
Really people, no other Hawaiians have any input on the Lu'au on the Bid Island? I really thought there would be more chatter, but thank you S Marquis for your response.
Polynesian Lu’au on the Big Island
I have not had a lot of time to research locations and didn't want to make reservations with out some chow hound help. The only one that has come up is at the Kona Village Resort, for $100 pp, says it is the oldest running Luau on the island. Is it worth the money, or is there a bettter one that you would recommend.
Here is what we are looking for: good entertainment, but more so good food and decent drinks. Unfortunately when I went to Oahu years ago I got advice from some booze heads who recommended one that was unlimited alcohal and the food sucked.
Thanks
Tampa/St. Pete ??????????????
Here is a good link, for my review of Bern's
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/506807
Thai Wok on 4th St. in St. Pete on North end near bridge. Red Mesa, also on 4th street closer to St. Pete down town.
Queen of Sheba- Tampa Ethiopian
You hit it on the head, with Ibex. I just emailed my girlfried to tell her about QoS because we used to go to Ibex together. Thank you for helping me remember. I can't wait to go to this one.
Big Island Disappointment
Thank you for the review, and saving us from making the same mistake. Please share your reviews of Roy's and Merriman's, as we are considering both of those on our stay as well.
Cooking classes and baking classes in the Tampa, Florida area??
I second the Rolling Pin, get on their email list and they will let you know of upcoming classes, and guest chefs. They offer classes and will also have demonstrations where you can sit and watch, and enjoy the fruits of their labors. I lucked out and got in on their last night of the demonstration where they included the flight of wine in the price, now they have a separate price to add the wine. Still worth it and if they are still doing it you get 20% coupon for that night or 10% for a limited time after that.
Business Trip to Tampa
If you are coming to Tampa and looking for a great evening and food, then you can not miss Bern's. I see that Sideberns (their smaller more contemporary location) was mentioned and it is great, but the experience is in the Original. They grow or make almost all of their ingredients, organic if they can. If you like steak tar tar, get the Bern's version as an app., truffled sauce and served with homemade kettle chips - it really works! Wonderful wine menu, the steaks are NOT a la carte like all the others in town. You will get a salad or soup and at least two sides. If you want you can also take a tour of the kitchen before dessert, which includes their wine cellar - enough said. When you arrive tell them you will be having dessert and they will save you a room upstairs, you could spend half an hour on the dessert/wine menu and still not be able to narrow it down. Here is my absoulte favorite: Cappuccino Bern's Steak House Style (beans are soaked in kahlua for a month), banana cheese pie, and if you are splurging or have someone to share with get the flight of ports. I am the first to admit that sometimes the service can be slow, but if it is your first time you will spend that time viewing the scenery. If you do it right you will be there about 3 hours.
Looking for good eats on the Big Island
Thank you I have looked at that and added a few to my list already. CanoeHouse looks good but the reviews go both ways. I did go to Roy's on Oahu years ago and may have to go to this one just to compare, unless I hear bad things here.
Looking for good eats on the Big Island
We will be there in May 2008, staying in Kona. We will have a car and plan to travel the whole island during our 8 day stay. As to price $-$$$$ is okay if it is worth it. I am looking for a place for a good plate lunch and want to know if Merrman's is as good as they say or is there something better. I heard there is a tour that takes you to his farms and then back the restaurant for a 4 course meal. Type of food is also open, we will of course want to take advantage of the fresh fish and sushi is a must. We like good food so if that happens to be a french, italian, or Thai restaurant that is fine. Here is the break down, 8 dinners - 2 high end (3 if I can convince my husband), and 7 breakfast and lunch. Love local haunts that the typical tourist who doesn't know how to check in with chow hounds would never find. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table Review
Heather,
Again thanks for the review, we did go for our anniversary and would you believe that we got a phone call that day that there was a cancellation at the Chef's Table and would we like to take it. YES! I will do a review under another post, but it will not do yours justice.
Sun City Center Hound Choices
update on the pizza front, we just tried East Coast Pizza on Big Bend and I would say that the Pizza Nazi has some stiff competition.
Babbo Tonight...What to Order?
Spaghettini with lobster, just got back from NYC and that was my favorite meal of the whole trip. Mint love letters were too much mint.
Best Steak Tartare
Has anyone had the steak tartare at the Petrossian? I have reservations there this Friday and was planning on having that as my entre.
Tampa - near Bank America Plaza
If you are looking for some privacy, if you can get a booth, at Avanzare in the Hyatt you would be happy.
http://www.tamparegency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp
First watch is great, but is always so packed there really is no privacy.
Farm Fresh Eggs in Hillsborough Cnty.
In case any of you fla hounds are interested, I have been searching ever since I posted this and in an article from the St. Pete Times, by Laura Reiley I found the following; I know it is more then eggs, but it is a great list for those willing to make the extra effort:
For local meat, it's slim pickings at area grocery stores, so you have to go that extra mile and contact purveyors directly. Rockin P. Ranch, (352) 588-0196 in Dade City, takes orders each August for October/November for all-natural certified Red Angus grass-fed calves. Also in Dade City, Cypress Creek Ranch, (352) 588-0395, offers homegrown, purebred Black Angus beef. Same with Outpost Ranch, (352) 585-1138 in Brooksville, but you have to buy a quarter, half or full steer. Rabbits, Etc., (352) 796 0459 in Masaryktown, has a big et cetera: It sells chemical-free meat from rabbits, sheep, cows, pigs, chickens, Cornish hens and turkeys. It offers eggs, too. At Heirloom Country Farms, (352) 337-2541 in Archer, you'll find free-range, certified naturally grown, grain- and grass-fed chickens and geese, along with eggs.
Babbo tonight!
legman,
Please give us some examples of the new menu, I am also going there in a couple of weeks. Did you order a la carte, or do a tasting menu?
Review of Flying Fish Cafe, Lake Buena Vista
Heather,
Thank you again for a great review. My SO and I have also been to the FF before and been underwhelmed. Next time we are in Orlando for a couple days we will have to give it another try, that is if this chef is still there.
Farm Fresh Eggs in Hillsborough Cnty.
I was just reading a post about the same thing in Orlando and it prompted to see if anyone had a source here in Hills Cnty.Preferrably from chickens that are raised naturally. They also have a great organic delivery service in Orlando, anyone heard of that in our area? (here is the link for orlando) http://www.orlandoorganics.com/
Any suggestions along this line would be appreciated.
Tampa- near John Knox Village on Fletcher Ave.?
Not sure where you are coming from or what you consider "good seafood", but if you take Bruce B Downs going south and cross over Fletcher and then Fowler you will see a Shells Seafood restaurant on you right about half a mile down. I am originally from New England and believe that their clam chowder is better then any I have had in Boston. Yes, it is a florida chain and some will disagree with me, I think for lunch they have a great value and the Shrimp Mezzo Mezzo is out of this world with garlic flavor. Interesting to note, there reason that I think it is a good value for lunch is because salad is included, but not with dinner.
http://www.shellsseafood.com/process.cfm?pageID=1
Actual good places to eat in Disney/Universal/Orlando
You haven't really given us a price range, so I will give you some of my choices in verious areas.
Highest end - Victoria and Albert's - make reservations now. Prices are $115 pp, and wine pairing is $65
Higher end - Citricos, same building as V&A,
link: http://allearsnet.com/menu/men_cit.htm
MGM - Hollywood Brown Derby - pricey - my favorite dish is the Noodle Bowl with wok fried coconut-crusted tofu, soy beans, sugar snap peas, bok choy and shiitake mushrooms in a red curry broth $17.00
link: http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bdl.htm
Epcot - can't remember the name but in France there is a walk up bakery, with wonderful pastries. I just found it Boulangerie Patisserie.
Epcot - United kingdom counter service at Yorkshire County Fish & Chips, or sit down at Rose and Crown Pub
Those are some I can speak to, but I am sure there are others, here is the web site that I have been referring to that has the menus to all the others.
http://allearsnet.com/
Have fun!
PS-Just outside of the down town disney is my favorite Pizza Place, Pizzeria Uno with deep dish Chicago style pizza. I have to go at least once when I am in Orlando, even if it is to get it to go on my drive back to Tampa.
Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table Review
Heather,
Thank you for the great review, we are taking another chow hounders advice and are getting the chefs table menu in the dining room (it was too late to get the chefs table) in two weeks for our 4 year anniversary. Your review has got my mouth watering in anticipation.
Looking for alternative for Mesa Grill
Okay CH's I have not seen anything recently when I did a search on Petrossian. I have reviewed the menu and it looks spot on with my weakness': foi gras, cavier, and steak tartar. How is the atmosphere? Has anyone been, give me a review please.
Looking for family recs in Treasure Island
Hey everyone thanks for the recs, the blue cheese chips were too irresistable. We went to Sloppy Joes, and you were right, nothing much to speak of past the chips. The rest of out food was just food, nothing that stood out, but the drinks were good, the atmosphere was good, and the kids really enjoyed the drum circle after dinner.
Thank you FLA Hounds.
Looking for family recs in Treasure Island
I don't get over to Treasure Island very often and so I have no idea where to go. My husband, my 21 month old daughter (who eats whatever we eat) are going to meet some friends who are vacationing there. They also have a son about 8, so I want some place he will feel comfortable, honestly we want to be comfortable to, so casual is key.
As a CH I want some place that has great food, we are meeting them Sunday about 6pm. As to price, probably main dishes aroung $15-$25.
Thanks
Looking for FLA chowhound reqs for NYC
The Chowhound Team moved this Manhattan discussion from the Florida board
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Hey fellow florida hounds,
I am leaving for NYC at the end of the month, and wanted to know what Florida's recommendations of places that blew your socks off when you were there. Right now I have reservations at:
Mesa Grill - Friday
Telepan - Sat.
Babbo - Sun.
